PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 994, 22 August 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday’s Sitting. THE LOAN BILL. Before proceeding with the Order of the Day, Major Atkinson said Government could not agree to the clause which Mr Shrimski proposed to be inserted in the Loan Bill, that is that any railway constructed under the Bill which would not pay working expenses the deficiency should be made up by taxing the laud for ten miles around it. The proposition was foreign to the Bill,

and he would ask the House not to insert it. A similar motion bad been carried last year, and the Government proposals affirmed the principles of it. He would refer it to a Committee to report upon in a week, and then it could be discussed.

Mr Shrimski denied a report that had been circulated to the effect that he had brought forward the motion at the suggestion of someone else. Mr Montgomery would oppose the Loan Bill until the matter was settled. Mr Holmes said Mr Hnrsthouse’s motion of last year dealt with railways already constructed, while the motion of Mr Shrimski would deal with those that were to be constructed, and was, therefore, distinct. The Government evidently wished the question shelved, and he hoped Mr Shrimski would consent to that.

Mr Macandrew said unless it was embodied in the bill it would never be gone on with, and Mr Fish expressed a similar view.

Mr J. C. Brown supported the proposal of referring the question to a Committee.

After several other members had spoken on the subject a division was taken, when there was on the Government side 45, and on the opposite 29.

Mr Hursthouse moved —“ That, in the opinion of this House, those districts through which Government railways run should be charged with the difference between working expenses, including interest on cost of construction and receipts from such railways.” Major Atkinson said most of the members of Government were in favor of the principle contaiasd in the motion, and moved as an amendment —“ That the principle of the special taxation of property increased in value by the expenditure of public money, and the construction of railways, harbors, etc., is just ; that to give effect thereto is beset by manj difficulties and tho same be referred to a Select Committee to confer and report upon the whole subject within on# week ; the said Committee to consist of Mr J. E. Brown, Sir George Grey, Mr Hursthous*, Mr Macandrew, Mr Shephard, Mr Sutton, Mr Hurst aud the mover.”

Sir George Grey asked to hare his name removed irora the Committee as he did not think he could come to any understanding with the other members on it.

After considerable discussion Mr Hursthouse’s motion was rejected by 38 to 22. Major Atkinson’s amendment then became the substantive motion, on which Mr Seddon moved the following amendment: respectful address be presented to the Governor, praying him to introduce without delay a measure to give effect to the following : — 11 That when any railways are made through private lands or lands owned by members of the native race, and when those lands adjacent thereto can be proved to be increased in value by the construction of railways, that such lands shall b« valued aud classified before the railway is constructed, and thereafter that on the increased value given to inch land* the owners thereof shall pay to the Crown a percentage of such increased value, or the alternative shall be given of paying five per cent per annum upon the whole amount of the increased value given to ■such lands by the construction of the railways ; that should such landowner demur to accepting the foregoing alternatives then the Crown shall be empowered to purchase the landa at the price at which they were valued prior to the construction of the railways being determined on ; the terms and condition of such purchase to be settled by valuation.” After some discussion the proposal of Government to refer the matter to a committee was agreed to.